Belt



Jan. 10, 1959 I. R. VERSOY 2,494,216

BELT

Filed April 17, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EY S Jan 10, 1950 I I. R. VERSOY 2,494,216

BELT

Filed April 17, 1.947 5 Sheets$he'et 2 ATTORNEY C Jan. 10, 1950 I. R. vERsoY 2,494,216

BELT

Filed April 17, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Jan. 10, 1950 TENT OFFICE 7 BELT rflonn aacorporation of..Connecticut fApiilication April 17, 1947; SeriitfNof 742,111

.6.Glaims. :1 This invention relates tea belt-orsupport; and more particularly to a garment or this nature adapted to be worn' for the supportof the 'a-bdomen and back. I The garment illustrated particularly-desirable for Ifleshy" men, and more particularlyufor "those with"more-'or-less' soft-flabby flesh which needs to be confined and supported. It=-is"-desirable that "suchi a support or girdle should be so constructed't that fit is "sufiicieritlyfiexible"to allow great freedom of movement and tube comfortable to" the wearerpwhi'lai'at the same time, confining the *flesh 'and-g'offering support to the abdominal walls and also to .thebackiif" necessary.

In. some instances,iligarments":whiclrrhave been designed for this; purpose" occasion: considerable discomfort to the weareriandrinterfereiwitlrhis freedom-10f movementinifthatiif they are stifliciently'stiff and strong to"have-thereqhirdsupporting and confiningfunctionsythey arenot sufficiently flexible.

It is the. object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a: garment of thi kindzwhich-wlll fit the above requirements; the-garmentbeingprovided with :a' rear or" back" section of relatively large size to contact theback ofz'thewearerover a considerable area; and a'front sectionto overlie the abdomen, and 1: particula'rlythef lower: part thereof, so as to 'givethe required'support to? the softfieshy portions'of'thebody.

A further obj ect" of the invention risto provide a belt orgirdle of'the character described provided with front and rearsections*connectedfby separate, but usually overlappin tabs, so that, while the front and-backsectionsor panels will-havethe required confining action-,"the connecting tabs-will permit freedom ofrmovement at the fsidesbetween said sections.

To these and other-ends 'the=invention'consists in the novel-features and combinationsofaparts to behereinafter described-aand-nlalmed.

In the accompanying'drawings:

I Fig. 1 is :a 'frontelevatlonali-view *of ak belt or girdle embodying my "invention Fig: 2 isa side-: view of'the same; showing the 'manner-inwhich'the :front and back sections-are connected;

Fig. 3 is a:front -elevational view or ab'elt-or girdle of somewhatmodified form;

Fig. 4 is apartialside-view of thebelt-"shcwn in Fig. 3; Fig.5 ls'an insi'de elevational viewmf the t front panel of the garmentshownin Figsfieand e:

-2 "'FigJ-fiis a sectional viewof theba'ck section of the garment on line 6"6of-,Fig. 4; and

"-F-ig.7 is a sectional viewof the front section of the-[garment on line 1-"! of Fig. 5.

As illustrated in the drawings, I have shown a b'eltor'girdle comprising" a back section I!) and a "front section I I. The back section is provided with a plurality of vertically extending stiffening, but flexible, stays or steels I2, fourin number, as 10' shown, althoughthis may be varied as desired.

"Theback section'or panel ill is continuous'between the outer stays and will preferably :be formed of non-elastic fabric,"whereby.this sec- -tion*will contact the 'back" of the wearer over a-*wide' area,so that the strain or pressurev will be distributed over this area.

The front section I! of the garment, as illus- .tratediis relatively small as compared to the back sectionand is provided with generally vertically 0 extending flexible stays 'or stiffening members l3. "Asillustrated; there are three of suchmem- .bers,.although the number may be varied if. desired; those at the side edges of the front section diverging: slightly. This front section or panel :is'likewise preferably formed of non-elastic fabric material; and is continuous, that is, devoid of openings between 'the two outer stays or steels I3. The manner in which the'front and back sections'are' connected will now be'described.

At each side edge of the front section, tabs l4 and 15 are provided, these. tabs extending from the outer stay members 3. The adjacent edges .of. the .tabs' .diverge,.. and the tabs themselves are superimposed overa wing member 16, which fills .the. angle between the tabs and makes a substantially continuous .sidesection at each side of. the

.frontpanel this side section being reinforced by ithelrtabs.

At each side. of the rear section are provided 40 forwardly extending ,tabs Hand-l8, these tabs being'tapered in-Width toward the front eso. that their-smaller forwardefree ends are spaced apart .tolsomehextent. As thegarmentis worn inta relatiyelyilow position on the body, the hip' bones '45 ofLLthewearer are designed to lie 'in'. the space between the forwarduends of .thetabs IT and i8, and- 'thus.these... bones.are .not confined, and. the pressurewhichwould otherwise be placed thereon is relieved.

"The sections are connected byfadjustableiand readily detachable straps .as' will now vbe explained; Loops l9 are secured to the front sectionpand through these loopsxare'passed straps -2ll"-*having adjusting-buckles 2 I thereon. These straps are passed through loops 22," which-"are is left free.

designed to be swivelly engaged with buttons 23 secured to the adjacent end portions of the tabs I! and I8. After being passed through the loops 22, the ends of the straps are brought back to the front section of the garment and secured along the upper and lower edges thereof. Diverging straps 24 may extend from the buttons 23 to reinforcements 25 provided vertically on the tabs I? and It, so as to distribute the pull or strain upon the buttons 23 over the width of the tabs l1 and I8 and, likewise, over the width of the back section ill.

The connection between the loops 22 and the buttons 23, while being readily detachable, also provides a swivelling action, so that movement of one section of the garment with respect to the other is permitted, while, at the same time, the straps 29 will at all times lie flat and not tend to curl or pull at one edge. This is particularly desirable when the wearer changes his position, as when changing from a sitting to a standing position, or vice versa.

In Figs. 3 to '7 of the drawings, I have shown a modified form of support in which a supplemental section or extension is provided to cooperate with the front panel of the garment. In this garment, the rear section I and front section I l are substantially the same as has been previously described in connection with the garment shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this case, however, the rear section is provided with a plurality of forwardly extending tabs 21, 28, and 29, these tabs tapering toward their free edges, but having their adjacent edges in overlapping relation, as shown in Fig. 4, while their free ends are in spaced relation so as not to confine the body of the wearer to an excessive extent at the sides thereof. The front and back sec- .tions are connected by means of the straps 20 in the same manner as previously described in connection with the garment shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A supplemental front section or extension '30 is provided, which section, at its lower portion, underlaps the front panel Ii. As shown, the lower portion of the section 30 extends within and lies beneath the front panel, while the upper portion of the section 30 extends above the front panel and ofiers support for the front of the body of the wearer over an extended vertical area.

This extension or supplemental section 30 may be entirely free or entirely disconnected from the front panel H. As shown, however, it is connected to the front panel at two relatively widely spaced points 3! and 32, but otherwise The connections 3| and 32 prevent separation of the section 30 from the front panel H and hold these two parts in proper assembled position, but, at the same time, allow a considerable freedom of movement between the sections. That is, between the points 3i and 32 the section 38 may telescope within the section H or withdraw therefrom to a considerable extent when the wearer, for example, changes from a sitting to a standing position, or bends forwardly or rearwardly as the case may be. Thus, the belt may be conveniently worn by a man playing golf or doing other forms of exercise without undue restraint over the movements of the body.

To the supplemental section or extension 30 are connected straps 33 in a manner similar to the connection of the straps 2D with the main front section II, which straps 33 are provided the garment'to, move upwardly. The sectional view of Fig. '7 illustrates the overlapping relation of the supplemental section 30 and the front panel II, and, as stated, considerable freedom is allowed for these two sections to telescope or slide one relatively to the other, so that there is nov tendency of the garment to unduly restrain the body of the wearer during bending and other movements.

The supplemental section 39 is also provided with generally vertically extending stays 3B and 39, which, while flexible, nevertheless, give some stiffness or rigidity to; this section in a vertical 1 direction. Thus, this section of the garment will to some extent, and particularly when outward pressure is exerted on the upper edge thereof, pivot or swing about the upper edge of the front panel ll, so as to cause the lower edge of the supplemental section 30 to move inwardly and thus press inwardly on this portion of the abdomen. I

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is: 1. A supporting garment or belt comprising a central front section having a plurality of spaced stiffening members therein extending generally vertically thereof, a plurality of tabs secured to the side'edges of said section to extend laterally therefrom, a back section the lower portion of which is shaped to conform to the upper portion of the hips of the wearer, a series of tabs extending from each side edge of said back section, straps secured to the tabs of one section and removably secured to the tabs of the other section by a swivel connection, each of said straps being adjustable independently of the other so as to apply tension to one set of tabs independently of the other, one tab on each side of the back section being adaptedto cover that portion of the body between the ribs and the hip portion of the wearer and said front section being of less height vertically than the back section. i

2. A supporting garment comprising a front section and a back section, said sections being of inelastic material and each having generally vertical stiffening members therein, a plurality of relatively wide tabs secured toeach side edge of the back section to extend toward the front section, strap means secured, to said tabs and connecting them individually to the front section and adapted to apply tension on the tabs, one tab on each side of the back section being adapted to cover that portion of, the body between the ribs and the hip portion, an extension member attached to the upper portion of the front section and projecting upwardly therefrom, and adjustable means connecting said extension member to the back section of the garment.

3. A supporting garment comprising a front section anda back section, said sections being of inelastic material and each having generally vertical stiffening members therein, a plurality of relatively wide tabs secured to each side edge of the back section to extend toward the front section, strap means secured to said tabs and connecting them individually to the front section and adapted to apply tension on the tabs, one tab on each side of the back section being adapted to cover that portion of the body between the ribs and the hip portion, an extension member attached to the upper portion of the front section and projecting upwardly therefrom, adjustable means connecting said extension member to the back section of the garment, and the lower portion of said extension member extending below and within the front section.

4. A supporting garment comprising a front section and a back section, said sections being of inelastic material and each having generally vertical stiffening members therein, a plurality of relatively wide tabs secured to each side edge of the back section to extend toward the front section, strap means secured to said tabs and connecting them individually to the front section and adapted to apply tension on the tabs, one tab on each side of the back section being adapted to cover that portion of the body between the ribs and the hip portion, an extension member attached to the upper portion of the front section and projecting upwardly therefrom, adjustable means connecting said extension member to the back section of the garment, and the attaching means for said extension member permitting limited movement thereof with respect to the front section when the garment is worn.

5. A supporting garment comprising a front section and a back section, said sections being of inelastic material and each having generally vertical stiffening members therein, a plurality of relatively wide tabs secured to each side edge of the back section to extend toward the front section, strap means secured to said tabs and connecting them individually to the front section and adapted to apply tension on the tabs,

one tab on each side of the back section being adapted to cover that portion of the body between the ribs and the hip portion, an extension member secured at widely spaced points to the upper portion of the front section adjacent the upper edge thereof and being otherwise free for limited movement between said points with respect to said section, and means adjustably securing said extension member to the back section of the garment.

6. A supporting garment comprising a front section and a back section, said sections being of inelastic material and each having generally vertical stiffening members therein, a plurality of relatively wide tabs secured to each side edge of the back section to extend toward the front section, strap means secured to said tabs and connecting them individually to the front section and adapted to apply tension on the tabs, one tab on each side of the back section being adapted to cover that portion of the body between the ribs and the hip portion, an extension member secured at widely spaced points to the upper portion of the front section adjacent the upper edge thereof and being otherwise free for limited movement between said points with respect to said section, means adjustably securing said extension member to the back section of the garment, and said extension member extending below the upper edge of the front section and being adapted for telescoping movements within the front section when the garment is worn.

IRVING R. VERSOY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,391,563 Monin Sept. 20, 1921 1,939,811 Guenther Dec. 19, 1933 2,283,108 Versoy May 12, 1942 2,306,546 Kispert Dec. 29, 1942 2,397,709 Versoy et a1. Apr. 2, 1942 

